The Cathedral struck gold at the 2015-2016 South-West Tourism Excellence Awards in Exeter Cathedral, winning a Gold Award in the Large Attraction of the Year category.

Announcing the prize West Country TV presenter and awards host Kylie Pentelow quoted the judges citation, saying Salisbury Cathedral was ‘a truly breath-taking building, packed with history of huge relevance, it meets the highest of standards’.

Jane Morgan, Director of Communications and Development, and Canon Edward Probert, the Cathedral's Chancellor and Sub Dean, collected the Gold award at a black tie event held in the nave of Exeter Cathedral.

Canon Edward Probert said: “This award is a fantastic accolade for the Cathedral at the end of the Magna Carta 800 celebrations, which aimed to embody our Cathedral values of integrity, welcome and the promotion of social justice. It recognises the energy and dedication of all the staff and volunteers involved.”

Jane Morgan, Director of Communications and Development said: “The Cathedral is a huge enterprise, dependent on the support and enthusiasm of so many to whom we are indebted. Their work did not stop with Magna Carta 800, we strive to maintain this level of excellence all the time. It is hard work but rewarding.”

Other finalists in the Large Vistor attraction category were Moors Valley Country Park & Forest, Pennywell Farm and RHS Garden, Rosemoor, which won silver awards, and Brunel's SS Great Britain in Bristol, which won bronze and Cornwall’s The Eden Project, which won gold.

Robin Barker, Director of Services for Tourism Ltd, who manages the Awards, said: “This year has been an excellent year for entries and the winners should be justifiably proud. All in all 93 entries were selected from 490 entrants, who are pushing new boundaries in what the South West region has to offer. They are the role models in tourism, constantly reinventing their offering and making sure this region stays at the fore in what is one of the biggest and fast growing industries in the world.”

Along with 26 other successful South West finalists, the Cathedral now goes forward to compete in the 2016 VisitEngland Awards for Excellence being held at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool on Tuesday 8th March. In addition to the Cathedral, this year’s Large Visitor Attraction of the Year finalists include Beamish, The Living Museum of the North (County Durham), Brunel's ss Great Britain (Bristol), Chester Zoo and The Whitworth (The University of Manchester).